Dennis Corporation employee, Ms. Kimberly Swygert, recently received her Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification. Ms. Swygert, a Dennis Corporation Engineering Associate, passed her LEED Certification Exam on Saturday, March 15.
The LEED Green Building Rating System is the nationally accepted standard for the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings. To become LEED certified, Ms. Swygert gained extensive knowledge in all facets of the LEED Building Rating System as well as learned how to effectively maintain and implement green building practices through taking a certification class. The attainment of the LEED certification provides building designers with the tools they need to have an immediate and measurable impact on their buildings’ performances. In addition to Ms. Swygert’s accreditation, Dennis Corporation currently has five design professionals enrolled in a LEED training course at the University of South Carolina. These professionals will be sitting for their LEED Accreditation exam within the next few months.
With these certifications, Dennis Corporation hopes to incorporate green design practices into their future projects to help ensure safer and more environmentally conscious techniques. By doing so, Dennis Corporation has added a great resource to their qualifications with the advantage of having practicing LEED officials on hand, especially due to the high influx of companies who are choosing to mandate the services of such professionals in their project requirements.
Ms. Swygert was happy to achieve this distinction and stated, “It is important to consider building green, not only for environmentally conscious people like myself, but for everyone. Many people are skeptical about building green because they think it will cost a lot more, when in reality, it does not cost near as much as people think to go green, and there are so many benefits. In fact, many green building measures can be incorporated with minimal or zero increased up-front costs and can still produce enormous savings. Green practices not only save water and energy, but also can reduce waste, lower operating costs, and lower maintenance costs. Other benefits include improving occupant health, comfort, and productivity; increased property value, sales and leasing potential; and just as importantly, environmental benefits of protecting endangered species, preservation of natural ecosystems, reduced consumption of earth’s natural resources, and improved air and water quality.”
Dennis Corporation consistently has been committed to following environmentally sound practices and utilizing recovered materials in their past projects and looks forward to continuing this commitment in their future endeavors with the help of their LEED accredited professionals. Recently, Dennis Corporation was recognized by the Asphalt Recycling and Reclaiming Association and the American Council of Engineering Companies for their recycling efforts in the Fairfield County Road Improvement Programs.
Dennis Corporation is a South Carolina licensed civil engineering, surveying and construction management firm. Dennis Corporation’s specific fields of expertise include civil infrastructure, construction management, construction services, expert witness services, program management, intelligent transportation systems, special projects, surveying, traffic engineering and transportation engineering.